Device for utilizing the motion of flexible diaphragms.



' .1 Witnesses No. 897,730. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

, W. M. FULTON. DEVICE EOE UTILIZING THE MOTION OI FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF

4 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DEVICE FOR UTILIZING TIE MOTION OF FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed March 24, 1905. Serial N 0. 251,914.

sure, and has for its object the transmission and utilization of the slight motion of a diaphragm without ap reciable loss.

Heretofore it has lieen the custom to clamp a diaphragm at its outer periphery to-any suitable rigid support and attach the rod or stem whichis to transmit its motion to the center of such diaphragm. The objection to this arrangement is that the diaphragmf buckles about the point of attachment of the stem resulting in a loss of motion that would otherwise be imparted to the stem. To overcome such buckling it has been proposed to provide the stem with a flange attachment extending nearly over the whole surface of the dia hragm. This arrangement obviously re uces the flexible portion of the diaphragm and confines it to an annular ringiat the periphery of the diaphragm, thereby greatly reducing its efficiency.

To overcome the above objections and utilize without loss the motion of the diaphragm, I transmit the motion of the diaphragm to a body of fluid confined on one side of the same which in turn transmits this motion to an inflexible but movable wall to which may be attached the actuating rod or stem for transmitting motion to the part to be moved, such as a valve stem for controlling a fluid supply.

According to this invention I provide an expansible and colla sible vessel havin corrugated walls capab e of resisting latera displacement and having a rigid end wall preferably rentering, the other end of the vessel being secured to the support for retaining the diaphragm. The space inclosed by the collapsible vessel and the diaphragm is filled with a fluid, such as oil, and the vessel sealed. Any movement of the diaphragm will now be transmitted to the movable wall without lost motion by the diaphragm. In order that this may be better understood, certain mechanical expressions of the inventive idea involved are shown in the accompanying movable end Wall, to which is secured a rod 7,

drawings, which are designed merely as illusvention and not as defining the limits thereof.'

In said drawingsFigure 1 shows in ver tical section one form of the invention, and Fig. 2 a modification thereof.

trations to assist in the description of the inw In Fig. 1, 1 is a diaphragm preferably corrugated circumferentially to increase its flexibility and is securelyfastened between two rigid disks 2, 2, preferably in the form of frustra of cones. Secured at its inner edge 3 is a corrugated sheet-metal 'wall 4, which isrigid enough to resist outward movement, having its opposite end closed by a reentering rigid end wall 5, which preferably extends well into the space surrounded by the corrugated wall, thereby reducing the space between the reentering wall 5 and corrugated Wall 4. 6 is a plate brazed or welded-to the having a slot 8 at its end for receiving a lever 9, pivoted therein at 10. A protecting casing 11 is secured to disk 2 at its bottom, and at its top supports a plate 12 provided with two slotted lugs 13 and 14, one for pivotally supporting lever 9 and the other serving as a guide and stop to limit the movements of the lever. 15 is a threaded connection fast to disk 2 for connecting the device to a source of fluid pressure such as a low pressuresteam boiler. 16 is" a weight for increasing the pressure on the end wall of the collapsible and expansible vessel when it is desired to set the device to operate at higher pressures, and is made fast to the arm 9 by means of a set screw 17. connected by means of .a flexible connection. 18 with a damper 0r valve, not shown. To limit the downward movement of the vessel 4, a shoulder 19 is provided on rod 7 which meets top-wall 12 at the extreme contraction of the vessel 4, while a similar limitation to the upward movement of the vessel is secured whenthe top of the corrugated wall reaches the underside of wall 12. The corrugations are thus protected from undue strain. The space bounded by the vertical wall 4,, its end wall 5, and the diaphragm 1, is filled with a liquid, preferably oil, for the purpose of transmitting the movements of the diaphragm 1 to the movable end wall 5.

The'opposite end of lever 9 is Having assembled the device as described,

The damper the lever arm to permit the lever to be moved at a predetermined ressure. Live steam from the boiler is admltted to the space below the diaphragm 1 and its pressure transmitted by the fluid pressure means to the lever to be raised or lowered. When the steam-pressure reaches the predetermined amount for which the weight 16 is adjusted it will move diaphragm 1 upward, transmitting its motion Without loss through the oil contained within the collapsible and expansible vessel to rigid end wall 5, forcing it upward, thereby lifting lever 9 and lowerin the damper chain 18 to close the damper. n the fall of steam pressure this 0 eration is reversed.

In Fig. 2 is s own a modification which is particularly useful in connection with pressures which fluctuate more or less rapidly, such as is experienced in using compressed air, in force pumps and the like, causing a rapid vibration of the diaphragm. To overcome this difliculty the movement of the oil resting immediately above diaphragm 1 is retarded by extending the disk 2 till a small opening 20 is left through which the oil must pass. This will damp the motion of the diaphragm so that it will move under steady ressure, but will not respond to sudden virations in pressure.

By reason of the construction herein described the entire movement of the diaphragm is transmitted to the actuating rod and the device is equally efficient Whether employed on a pressure system of steam heat- In a device of the character described for utilizing the motion of a flexible dia hragm, the combination of a corrugated co lapsible and eX ansible metallic vessel having a rigid movable end closure, a rigid plate having a central opening therein and fast to the opposite end of said vessel, a flexible diaphragm of larger diameter than that of said vessel fast to said plate for retaining 1n said vessel a power-transmitting liquid, means applying fluid pressure to said diaphragm and in opencommunication with a source of fluid pressure whose fluctuations are to operate the vessel, and power-transmitting means associated with said vessel.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WESTON M. FULTON.

Witnesses W. W. BERRY, 

